Improved washing-machine



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WILLIAM A.- BROWN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

`.Lette/'s Patent No. 100,253, dated M arch 1, 1870.

IMPRCVED WASHING-MACHINE.

The Shdu1e referred to in these Letters Patent and making part 0f the same.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,WILLIAM A. BROWN, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the vaccompanyingr drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvements.

Figure 2, a central vertical section of the same.

In both drawings, the same -lettcr of reference iu dicates corresponding parts. l

My invention relates- FirstA to improvements in the mode of operating those washing-machines which laccomplish the washing by means 0f the\agitation of the water'produccd by the revolution ot' a central upright agitator; and

Second, to the protection of the motive power and agitator from con tact with the articles undergoing the process of washing by inclosing the driving-shaitiu o, box, and by covering the lower works with a grater or perforated false bottom,\arid the agitator with a net-work of wood or metal; and y Its objects are, by thus covering the working parts, to obviale the dil'licult-ies attending the operation of such machines which are the result of the contact of the clothes with the working parts, and, by using a 'grated or perforated false bottom, to allow the sediment to deposit below the reach of the direct action of the agitator.

In lig. J is represented a plan view of a washing# machine with my improvements attached, in which one-half of false bottom F, agitator A, and wire cover W is cut away, to allow a view of the works attached to the tubs bottom.

At the side of the tub T, and parallel to it, in fig. 2, is shown driving-shaft S.

This shafts lower bearing is in a socket provided for it in metallic plate N, attached to bottom b, and its lower extremity carries pinion I. Its upper end projects through a perforated arm, 0, atta/chad to the.

tnbs side, and this arm, bearing upon a liauge on the shaft, keeps it iu place..

The shaft S is operated in two ways, the first of which is by means of crank C, attached to its u'pper end, and the second by means of crank G', crank-shaft E, which works in the side of the tub and carries gearwheel G, and bevel-gearing G and H.

Shaft S and wheel Gare inclosed in boil B, attached to thetub, and thus protected from contact with the articles that are being washed.

v To the centre of bottom b,`metallic plate M, with its solid vertical rod R, is attached.

The ofce of the plate is to serve as a-beariug, and that of the rod as an axle for hollow disk-shaft u and its pinion L. v

Shaft a is inserted through a-peri'oraton in false bottom F, into wooden disk D and agitator A, and there securely fastened.

Agitator A consists of four solid wings or paddles, at right angles to each other, which, attheir base, reach'nearly to the circumference of disk D, to which they are attached, and from thence to lthe top are graded toa blunt point.

A, strong net-work protector, W, of wire or other material, a little larger than the agitator an'd its base, and of correspondingconical form, is placed over it, and secured to false bottom Fin such manner that the agitator is allowed a fr ee and unobstructed move? ment.

It will thus .be seen that protector-:lliT and bottom F-,beiug connected together, as well as ,agitator A and shaft u, with its attachment, and the latter being removable from its axle R, upon which iti4 works loosely,

they can all be removed conveniently together.

False bottom F is a grating, or' a perforated disk withl notches cutin its periphery corresponding to the radial projections P and box B,'attached to the side of the tub, and is supported by rests lr. It covers and protects from contact with the articles being washed piuions I L and gear-wheel K, attached to bottom b, and 'connectiug-piuions I and`L.

Wire-protector W allows free circulation to the water, and, at the same time, prevents the clothing from' touching the agitator.

Radial projections P serve to prevent the clothing from being carried around by the Current of water.

Afspigot in the side of the tub, between bottoms F and b, affords the means of drawing off the water from below.

By turning crank C or crank C', Shaft S is revolved, and by gear-wheels I, K, and L motion is communicated to agitator A, and the machine operated.

I claim as my invention- 1. The-combination and arrangement of shaft S, pinion I, gear-wheel K, pinion L, and shaft u with agitator A, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The grated or perforated false bottom F and protector W, constructed substantially as and for tho purpose set forth.

3. The combination and arrangement of central r volving agitator A with protector W, false bottom F, and hollow shaft u, substantially in the manner described.

The above specification of said invention signed and witnessed at ual-y, 1870. v

WM. A. BROWN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM S. BnowN.` W. M. BUsEY.

Philadelphia this 25th day of Jan- 

